Wildlife in Care

Mummy came to visit me again this week. She was so thrilled to see me and said she could see my ' happy eyes' again. I am feeling so much better now and don't get tired so quickly. I came out of my enclosure and had Mummy all to myself. She fed me my woolly bush and bread. We had cuddles, ear tickles. kisses and head rubs. Mummy even gave me my bottle (Auntie Pauline snuck in an extra one so Mummy could give it to me) It was almost like old times. But then she had leave again, so v e r y reluctantly I went back into my enclosure (I am a good girl) with all my new sisters. Rocket (my new brother) and I get along really well, I think he will look after me when it is time for me to be a wild child again. The vet came to see me this week and is really thrilled with my progress and was really interested in what Auntie Pauline was doing to help my recovery.

From OBSERVATIONS ABOUT MYOPATHY IN MACROPODIDS By Dr Howard Ralph and Dr Rosemary Austen

The outcome of being subjected to a precipitating stressor is variable but the prognosis is often poor and the patient may die very soon after exposure or show progressive signs for several months and eventually die. Treatment is available and if applied early may be effective to reverse the disease process. Early detection, suspicion of the possibility of stress myopathy, or provisional diagnosis thereof, enable prophylaxis and/or prompt treatment, leading to a better prognosis. The insidious and relentless progression of the condition means that aggressive and persistent treatment are essential. Unfortunately there is still a significant mortality and morbidity associated with stress myopathy. Kangaroos are particularly susceptible to this condition, and our experience suggests that it more common than previously thought. There seems to be an individual variation in the degree of susceptibility.

Thank you Auntie Pauline for your quick diagnosis when Mummy called you, so I could be given the right treatment straight away.